Drivers from throughout the Upper Midwest and south-central Canada are expected to attend, bringing upwards of 200 WISSOTA-sanctioned Late Models, Modifieds, Super Stocks and Midwest Modifieds to the program.

In planning for the 38th annual Red Clay Classic, ABC Raceway has made one of the most anticipated race events of the 2013 stock car racing season in the Northland a little more attractive—especially for the drivers.

The venerable three-eighths-mile red-clay oval located south of Ashland, Wisconsin, will host its traditional season finale on Friday and Saturday, September 27-28, and this year’s edition will offer a record purse sure to attract more racers and fans to the popular event.

Drivers from throughout the Upper Midwest and south-central Canada are expected to attend, bringing upwards of 200 WISSOTA-sanctioned Late Models, Modifieds, Super Stocks and Midwest Modifieds to compete for their share of what is one of the biggest offerings in regional short-track stock car racing.

The planned overall purse has been increased to exceed $80,000 for this year’s edition, with the vast majority of the approximately $6000 pay bump earmarked for the middle-of-the-pack finishers in Saturday’s four championship features.

The winner’s share in three of the four features remains the same as in the past few years. The Mid-Mods will race 25 laps on that Saturday night for $600 to win, the “big” Mods will battle 35 laps for a $3000 first-place check, and the Late Models will run their 50-lap main event for a top prize of $4000.

Only the Super Stocks will see an increase at the very top, with an ABC Raceway division-record $1800 check to be written out to the winner of their 30-lap headliner, but the increase is offered throughout their payout as well.

“We felt that by offering the purse increase to the middle of the feature payouts instead of just to the top (finishers), it will help more drivers feel that the trip to the Red Clay Classic is worthwhile,” explained Raceway Board member Eric Erickson, who created the purse proposal. “More and more drivers want to see a special event like this pay well for a top-ten or top-15 finish. They all know it pays big to win.”

In addition to the huge winners’ checks and healthy overall payout, another $2600 in bonuses will be offered. The track is again offering a $500 “Champions’ Challenge” to any past RCC winner who captures a feature on that Saturday, and Northern Clearing Inc of Ashland is ponying up another $150 each to the drivers that post the fastest timed laps in each of the four main events.